‘Stangs make statement against 3A Nevada

MONROE — PCM scored at least 50 points in its first two games of the season, but the first-team offense ran 28 plays in Week 1 and 25 plays in Week 2.

It wasn’t that easy on Friday night against Class 3A Nevada, but the Mustangs put together a statement victory on their home turf during a 30-7 non-district triumph over the Cubs.

“I’m going to really enjoy this win,” PCM head football coach Greg Bonnett said. “We played very well, took care of the football and were flying around on defense.

“I’m very happy with the way we played tonight. But I also think when we watch the film, they will see some room for improvement even.”

That’s pretty scary for the rest of the teams on PCM’s schedule. The Mustangs rushed for nearly 300 yards and the defense didn’t allow a single point while registering three sacks and five tackles for loss.

PCM also proved it’s not only a quick-strike offense. Adrien Robbins did get loose for a 74-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs ran 42 plays on their five scoring drives.

“We went into this game knowing it was going to be a dogfight,” Robbins said. “We played our hearts out, trusted our preparation and trusted our coaches. That’s all it really comes down to.”

Nevada came into the game ranked in the top 10 of 3A by at least one ranking service. The Cubs handed PCM a 27-7 loss last season, but this one was all Mustangs.

The defense held Nevada to 42 rushing yards on 24 carries, PCM held a 20-11 advantage in first downs and there were 19 total penalties.

“I think this win was huge,” Trenner Van Dyke said. “We knew it was going to be a fight, but that just prepares us for what’s to come down the line.”

The Mustangs hope a deep postseason run is in their future. They are currently ranked in the top five of 2A in multiple rankings.

After holding the Cubs (2-1) to a three-and-out on their first drive, the Mustangs marched 46 yards in six plays to crack the scoreboard.

Robbins opened the drive with a 19-yard run then went 9 and 6 on his next two carries. Gavin Van Gorp scored from 1 yard out three plays later.

Nevada got two first downs thanks to a pair of PCM penalties on its next possession. Then a roughing the passer penalty on fourth down later moved the chains again.

However, Van Dyke moved the ball backwards with a sack and two incompletions later set up another punt.

“I’m just trying to get off the ball quickly,” Van Dyke said. “When you have a great defensive line, they can’t double team everyone. They can’t block everybody. The coaching staff prepares us well, too.”

PCM started its second possession from its own 2-yard line. The drive featured 12 plays and six first downs, but the Mustangs were forced to punt after back-to-back penalties at the end of it.

But the Mustangs got the ball back in great field position after the Cubs’ drive went backwards. Nevada’s punt also went negative-4 yards.

Van Gorp made the score 12-0 after scoring from 1 yard out again. PCM went 17 yards in six plays. Van Gorp’s seven rushing TDs rank fifth in 2A.

The Mustangs opened the second half with an 11-play, 59-yard scoring drive. Robbins was busy on the possession, carrying the ball seven times. That included an 18-yard run that set PCM up inside the 5-yard line.

Gavin Steenhoek ended the drive with a 3-yard TD pass from Van Gorp in the corner of the end zone and Robbins’ two-point conversion run made it 20-0.

“It’s great to block for him,” Van Dyke said about Robbins. “He’s going to make things happen, and if we can get him into the open field, they aren’t touching him. The running game is working great.”

Nevada took advantage of PCM’s poor field position later in the quarter. The Mustangs started the possession from their own 1-yard line, and Robbins got 14 more yards on four carries, but Nevada’s Austin Waldera forced a turnover that resulted in a 14-yard fumble return for a score to put the Cubs on the board.

PCM answered with another scoring drive though. This time, the Mustangs went 76 yards in 18 plays but settled for a 28-yard field goal by Dominic Witt.

Thirteen of the 18 plays were either runs by Robbins or Van Gorp, but the senior quarterback also found Harlan Shannon for 18 yards and a first down and connected with Robbins for 17 more and a first down.

The field goal put PCM in front 23-7. Witt had four touchbacks on his five kickoffs and leads 2A with 18 touchbacks this fall.

Robbins capped the victory with a 74-yard run with 5:26 to go in the fourth. He finished with 261 rushing yards and one TD on 33 carries and added 16 yards on two catches.

Robbins ran the ball 21 times for 168 yards in the second half.

“This is the first game I’ve actually played both halves so I will probably be feeling it tomorrow,” Robbins said. “It was a great win, and I feel great about how we played.”

Van Gorp ran for 28 yards and two TDs on 14 carries and was 6-of-8 through the air for 66 yards and one touchdown. His only punt went 43 yards.

Shannon led the receivers with 31 yards on two catches and Steenhoek added 19 yards and a TD on two catches.

Evan Jones had a team-best five tackles for the defense, while Van Dyke, Brevin DeRaad and Finn Wilson all had 4.5 tackles.

Robbins collected four tackles, Alex Wendt had 2.5 tackles and one sack and Van Dyke and Braedyn Lester each registered one sack.

Van Dyke, who also starts on the offensive line, leads 2A with five sacks and ranks second with nine tackles for loss.

“He’s very determined this year,” Bonnett said about Van Dyke said. “Everything the kid does, it’s with determination. He’s got a good intensity about him. He’s just another tough, physical Van Dyke boy.”

Connor King threw for 129 passing yards and Waldera had 48 yards on three catches and led the Nevada defense with 9.5 tackles.

King challenged the Mustangs down field a lot in the game. He finished 13-of-27 through the air and most of the deep passes were thrown in the direction of PCM defensive back Carson Hansen.

“When we made them throw the deep ball, we covered it well,” Bonnett said. “Carson Hansen made a ton of plays tonight. We knew they’d go at him. And when (Robbins) wasn’t in, we figured they’d attack (Chase) Wagaman, too. They had a game plan. In the end, (Hansen) held his own and the defense didn’t give up any points.”

Notes: The Mustangs are using a more up-tempo offense this season. “We used tempo in spurts last year, but we’ve hit our stride with that this year,” Bonnett said. “We are trying to go fast and not let the defense make adjustments. It’s a good idea to run those plays as fast as we can.” … Robbins ranks fifth in 2A with 522 rushing yards, fourth with a 9.3 yards per carry average and tied for sixth with six rushing TDs.